Day 1426 on Zepbound | Why are some college women turning to weight loss shots to lose just a few pounds—and what does the pressure behind that decision reveal?
GLP-1s and Body Image: When the Pressure to Fit In Goes Too Far
GLP-1s and body image are personal topics for me. I’ve shared many encouraging moments from my treatment journey, but this Day 1426 video comes from a more concerned place.
A story about college women seeking weight loss medication in connection with sorority recruitment made me think about comparison, belonging, and the pressure to change our bodies.
I understand wanting to fit in. I remember those feelings from junior high and high school, and I know that reaching adulthood doesn’t automatically make them disappear. That’s why I want this conversation to begin with compassion.
Wanting to Belong Is Understandable
Starting college can mean finding new friends, joining groups, and wondering where you belong. In this video, I reflect on how appearance can become tangled up with that search for acceptance.
The question that stays with me is this: if you feel you must change your body to earn someone’s approval, will that relationship offer the support you need?
That question applies beyond college. At different ages, we may compare ourselves with friends, people online, or an image of how we think we should look.
I want young people—and those of us who aren’t so young anymore—to have friendships where they feel valued as whole people.
My Own Experience With Body Image
I became emotional while recording this video because the subject brought back memories.
For years, I wanted to look like other girls. Even after losing weight, I have sometimes struggled to recognize my progress without immediately finding something to criticize.
John has helped me pause and see myself differently. His encouragement matters to me, but I also recognize that difficult feelings about appearance deserve attention in their own right.
Changing a number on the scale hasn’t automatically changed every thought I have about my body. That is part of my personal experience, and sharing it helps explain why I feel compassion for people facing similar pressures.
GLP-1s and Body Image Don’t Tell the Whole Medical Story
We cannot determine whether someone needs medication by looking at their body, knowing their age, or seeing a photograph.
In the video, I distinguish my concern about appearance-driven use from treatment that a young adult and their clinician have determined is appropriate. College students can have legitimate medical reasons for taking these medications.
The NIDDK explains that choosing a weight management medication involves individual benefits, risks, health conditions, and other medicines. It also advises against taking weight management medication solely to improve appearance. Its guide to prescription weight management medications provides more context. NIDDK
Prescription Medication Deserves More Than Casual Reassurance
A reassuring comment from a friend cannot establish whether a medication is appropriate or safe for another person.
My concern is the idea that taking a little medication to lose a few pounds must be harmless. Prescription treatments have potential side effects, and the benefits and risks need individual consideration. NIDDK
Before starting treatment, useful questions for a clinician include:
- What condition are we treating?
- What benefits are realistic for me?
- Which risks or side effects should we discuss?
- How will we monitor my health?
- How should concerns about eating or body image affect the plan?
These questions create space for an informed conversation instead of a decision driven by comparison.
Recognizing When More Support Could Help
Body dissatisfaction does not automatically mean someone has an eating disorder or body dysmorphic disorder. Those terms should not be used as casual diagnoses.
However, persistent distress about appearance or a growing preoccupation with weight and controlling food intake deserves professional attention. The National Institute of Mental Health explains that eating disorders can affect people at any body weight and that treatment can help. Its eating disorder information describes signs and ways to seek support. National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Building a Community Around Understanding
My hope is that this conversation encourages us to listen carefully when someone describes pressure to change their body.
We can take their feelings seriously without reinforcing the idea that becoming smaller is the price of belonging.
Visit Amy Denae Weight Loss for more personal conversations about GLP-1s and body image, maintenance, and everyday life. Our free peer community offers shared experiences and encouragement alongside—not in place of—professional care.
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2 thoughts on “College Girls Taking Ozempic… Their Reason Scares Me”
What worries me about articles like the one you read, is that it perpetuates the myth that we who are taking these medications are on them just to have an “easy way to get skinny.” I would like to see more articles about the disease of obesity and how these medicines are used to control this chronic disease.
Also, I totally relate to your comments about body dysmorphia. I too at times will look in the mirror and see the obese body I’d lived in for many, many years. I guess we need time for our brains to catch up with the change the rest of our bodies went through.
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Hey Edie!! 😊💛 I definitely hear you! I love your idea that more articles should focus on the health side of these medications. That “easy way to get skinny” idea gets old!
And yes, Friend… we’ve had some good conversations about our body dysmorphia! It’s the craziest thing to know how much we’ve changed and still have those moments in the mirror! Apparently our brains are taking the scenic route catching up! 😂 Grateful to talk freely with someone who gets it! Hugs and have an awesome weekend! 💛
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